Since the recession in 2008, private jets have not ranked as a priority, even for the super-rich. However, for the first time in years, there has been an uptick in Western Europe, in jet charter bookings.

According to a report by Victor Private Jet Travel, the $14-billion-dollar private charter industry is growing. In Europe, France tops the list of countries with a high demand for personal jet travel. Germany and the United Kingdom follow France.

According to Clive Jackson, there is a lot of international interest from France. There is also a huge ambition to grow and take home a bigger slice of the global pie, beating the rest of Europe. Mr Jackson is the CEO of Victor. He adds that the French are willingly justifying aircraft as a business tool that will help them gain a competitive advantage.

By chartering a plane, one is not necessarily guaranteed better service than a first-class ticket. The price of the two is on par. The only advantage of a chartered flight over a commercial flight is time-saving.

According to Mr Jackson, his clients try to squeeze more hours out of their day. Even though this is impossible, a private flight, if done correctly, can give the feeling of a time machine. A plane charter is faster and more flexible than a commercial flight.

For private charters, the clients can board their flight an hour after booking, without enduring airport security complexities. The clients can also board or alight at smaller, private airports that are near to their destinations. During the flight, the clients again can turn the plane cabin into a small office.